Barcelona sporting director, Deco, has said that Lionel Messi had a better environment to flourish at Camp Nou compared to fast-rising youngster, Lamine Yamal.
Yamal’s last season’s explosion at Camp Nou has ignited comparisons with Messi.
At just 17-year-old, Yamal finished last campaign with seven goals and nine assists from 50 games for the Catalans.
He was chosen to represent Spain at Euro 2024 and adjudged the Young Player of the tournament.
Yamal is now being hailed as Lionel Messi’s heir at Camp Nou.
Speaking to RAC 1 Radio, Deco said, “Leo was a slightly more explosive player at the time but Lamine is 17 years old and is winning.
“Leo was fortunate to grow up in an environment of a club that was winning, a generation that was winning, this gave him a little more time.
“Lamine is part of a renewal, of a generation that is being created. The good thing about Lamine is that he has an unusual maturity for his age and what he is experiencing.”